Often overlooked and underused, ferns can fill many roles in the garden. In shady or wet conditions that may be unsuitable for other plants there are ferns that will thrive. Many can provide a lush tropical foliage effect that's hard to accomplish with hardy plants, and add subtle color and bold texture in shade. Some make great groundcovers for a woodland setting, and some are evergreen or semi-evergreen, providing an extended season of interest.

Paeonia lactiflora Abalone Pearl

Peony                                   Zone 3

Early semi-double with glowing rose pink petals surrounding a large boss of yellow stamens. Mildly fragrant.

Full Sun

Height: 26"   Space: 24-36"

Paeonia lactiflora Avalon

Peony                                   Zone 3

Midseason bloomer with a mild fragrance. Single 5" flowers have rows of pink, cream and raspberry streaked petals. Floriferous.

Full Sun

Height: 24"  Space: 24-36"

Paeonia lactiflora Best Man

Peony                                   Zone 3

Vibrant, double, deep red flowers later in the season (June). The large heavy flowers may require staking.

Full Sun

Height: 33"   Space: 24-36"

Paeonia lactiflora Bride's Dream

Peony                                   Zone 3

A floriferous selection with Japanese style flowers. Pure white outer petals with pale, yellowish center petaloids.

Full Sun

Height: 26-28"   Space: 24-36"

Paeonia lactiflora Charm

Peony                                   Zone 3

Vigorous, upright, Japanese type. Ruby red outer petals with reddish-yellow center. Late season bloomer.

Full Sun

Height: 34"   Space: 24-36"

Paeonia lactiflora Cincinnati

Peony                                   Zone 3

Beautiful double flowering variety with radiant deep pink petals edged in silver. Midseason bloomer.

Full Sun

Height: 32"   Space: 24-36"

Paeonia lactiflora Clown

Peony                                   Zone 3

Single, rose-pink petals have light pink picotee edge. Bright yellow boss of stamens. Nice fragrance.

Full Sun

Height: 34"   Space: 24-36"

Paeonia lactiflora Double White

Peony                                   Zone 3

Fully double flowers in shades of white. Mid peony bloom season. A variable mix of differing heights.

Full Sun

Height: 24-36"   Space: 24-36"

Paeonia lactiflora Eliza Lundy

Peony                                   Zone 3

A dense, compact growing plant. Fully double, maroon-red, bomb-type flowers. An early season bloomer.

Full Sun

Height: 24"   Space: 18-24"

Paeonia Fragrant Pink Improved - P. lactiflora

Peony                                   Zone 3

The name says it all! Sweetly fragrant, fully double, deep pink flowers with tight petals. Mid season.

Full Sun

Height: 26-28"   Space: 24-36"

Paeonia lactiflora Illini Warrior

Peony                                   Zone 3

Single or semi-double flowers with rich red petals and a sunny yellow center. Early season.

Full Sun

Height: 32"   Space: 24-36"

Paeonia lactiflora Karen Gray

Peony                                   Zone 3

Compact and floriferous midseason bloomer. Single, deep fuchsia flowers with a large creamy yellow center.

Full Sun

Height: 24"   Space: 24-36"

Paeonia lactiflora Karl Rosenfield

Peony                                   Zone 3

Impressive, free-flowering cultivar with large, double, purple red flowers on strong stems. Midseason.

Full Sun

Height: 36"   Space: 24-36"

Image courtesy Walter's Gardens Inc.

Paeonia lactiflora Largo

Peony                                   Zone 3

A strong stemmed Japanese (anemone) type with rose-pink petals surrounding rose and gold stamens. Mid season.

Full Sun

Height: 36"   Space: 24-36"

Paeonia lactiflora Lil Sweetie

Peony                                   Zone 3

Very early blooming, P. tenuifolia hybrid. Compact plants have finely cut leaves. Fire-engine red, cupped, single flowers.

Full Sun

Height: 24"   Space: 18-30"

Paeonia lactiflora Lord Cavin

Peony                                   Zone 3

Very unique, fully double bomb type flowers are creamy white with maroon and pink streaks. Midseason.

Full Sun

Height: 30"    Space: 24-36"

Paeonia lactiflora Miss America

Peony                                   Zone 3

Gorgeous open semi-double white flowers with golden-yellow stamens. White petaloids decorate the center. Early season.

Full Sun

Height: 23"    Space: 24-36"

Paeonia lactiflora Nice Gal

Peony                                   Zone 3

Compact selection with semi-double vivid, rose-pink petals with tufted golden yellow stamens. Good bud count. Early season.

Full Sun

Height: 26"   Space: 24-36"

Paeonia Raspberry Sundae - P. lactiflora

Peony                                   Zone 3

Distinctive bomb-type flowers of creamy white with raspberry pink centers. Great fragrance. Delicious! Midseason.

Full Sun

Height: 27"    Space: 24-36"

Paeonia lactiflora Scarlett O'Hara

Peony                                   Zone 3

Large, single, fragrant flowers with scarlet red petals surrounding bright yellow-gold stamens. Vigorous grower. Early season.

Full Sun

Height: 36"   Space: 24-36"

Paeonia lactiflora Sorcerer

Peony                                   Zone 3

aka Lights Out. Single flowers with deep dark red petals. Bright yellow center stamens. Early season.

Full Sun

Height: 36"   Space: 24-36"

Paeonia lactiflora Wally

Peony                                   Zone 3

Single, eye-catching, dark reddish-magenta blooms have red tipped stigmas. The showy blooms appear mid season.

Full Sun

Height: 22"   Space: 24-36"

Tree Peonies. Paeonia suffruticosa and it's allies produce huge flowers earlier than the herbaceous types. The foliage of tree peonies is more attractive and looks good all through summer, even showing some great fall color. Far more tolerant of shade than the herbaceous peonies. More a shrub than a tree, they get the name "tree" peony from the woody stalks it forms. These stems should not be cut back although tips may occasionaly suffer a little dieback, requiring judicious pruning.

Paeonia suffruticosa Houki

Tree Peony                              Zone 4

Semi-double, huge, lipstick red flowers with bright yellow stamens in late spring. Fragrant. A woody shrub. Stem and branches overwinter.

Full Sun to Moderate Shade

Height: 4-5'   Space: 36"

Paeonia suffruticosa Kaoukamon

Tree Peony                              Zone 4

Semi-double, dark maroon flowers with a light fragrance in May. A woody shrub. Stems and branches overwinter. Remove dead wood.

Full Sun to Moderate Shade

Height: 4-5'   Space: 36"

Paeonia suffruticosa Shimadaijin

Tree Peony                              Zone 4

Large semi-double flowers of magenta- purple are up to 10" in diameter, in May. A woody shrub, stem and branches overwinter.

Full Sun to Moderate Shade

Height: 4-5'   Space: 36"

Intersectional or Itoh Peonies. The Itoh peonies are a result of crosses between a tree peony and herbaceous peony. The Itoh's are named for the pioneering breeder who was first to successfully make this cross. These beautiful, easy to grow plants have inherited the huge flowers, strong stems and shade tolerance of the tree peony, but tend to die down to the ground like the herbaceous ones. Some woody stalks may start to form but these should be cut back, in fall,  just as you would the herbaceous stems..

Paeonia Bartzella

Itoh Hybrid Peony                       Zone 3

Huge 9" sulphur yellow flowers are borne in profusion on strong stems. Mature plants bear up to 60 flowers. Gorgeous.

Full Sun to Light Shade

Height: 24-30"   Space: 36-48"

Paeonia First Arrival

Itoh Hybrid Peony                       Zone 3

Very large, showy lavender-pink flowers with dark pink flares. One of the earliest Itoh's to bloom. Attractive dark green foliage.

Full Sun to Light Shade

Height: 26-30"   Space: 36-48"

Paeonia Going Bananas

Itoh Hybrid Peony                       Zone 3

Very large single flowers have soft yellow petals surrounding a tuft of yellow stamens. Dramatic cut flower.

Full Sun to Light Shade

Height: 24-30"   Space: 30-36"

Paeonia Julia Rose

Itoh Hybrid Peony                       Zone 3

Very large single to semi-double flowers open coral-red then fade to salmon-orange and creamy yellow.

Full Sun to Light Shade

Height: 24-30"   Space: 30-36"

Paeonia Kopper Kettle

Itoh Hybrid Peony                       Zone 3

Very large double to semi-double flowers are an unusual blend of red, yellow and orange. Unique.

Full Sun to Light Shade

Height: 24-30"   Space: 30-36"

Paeonia Magical Mystery Tour

Itoh Hybrid Peony                       Zone 3

Gorgeous double rose-like flowers open cream flushed and edged amethyst pink. Colors change as flowers age. Disease resistant foliage.

Full Sun to Light Shade

Height: 28"   Space: 36-48"

Paeonia Morning Lilac

Itoh Hybrid Peony                       Zone 3

Large single to semi-double flowers are deep lavender-pink with streaks of white, fuchsia and a darker center.

Full Sun to Light Shade

Height: 24-30"   Space: 30-36"

Paeonia Sequestered Sunshine

Itoh Hybrid Peony                       Zone 3

Large 5-7" single to semi-double flowers are yellow highlighted by red stamens. Excellent cut flower on long sturdy stems.

Full Sun to Light Shade

Height: 30-32"    Space: 36-48"

Paeonia Singing In The Rain

Itoh Hybrid Peony                       Zone 3

Gorgeous, very large semi-double blooms have creamy yellow petals, flushed with salmon as they age.

Full Sun to Light Shade

Height: 36-48"   Space: 36-48"

Paeonia Smith Family Yellow

Itoh Hybrid Peony                       Zone 3

Fragrant, fully double, clear yellow flowers up to 8" across on strong stems. Attractive, disease resistant foliage.

Full Sun to Light Shade

Height: 28"    Space: 36-48"

Paeonia Yankee Doodle Dandy

Itoh Hybrid Peony                       Zone 3

Dark pink, semi-double rose form flowers have plum colored flares. Very floriferous. Attractive dark green foliage lasts into autumn.

Full Sun to Light Shade

Height: 36"   Space: 36-48"